Chapter 20 – Emotional Fire

Petalberg woods, Hoenn Region…

Even the worst nightmare induced by the most malevolent Darkrai could not worse than the one Hunter now found himself in…

Ashachu…His best friend…The Pokémon he loved…or though he had loved. Had betrayed him in the worst way possible. First there was the business with that Sneasel. Then he had signed up with Team Rocket. He had helped Team Rocket kidnap him and Geyser.

And now he lay weak and injured on a bed in the Petalberg City Pokémon centre where…who knew what was going to happen to him.

It was too much…Poor Hunter felt like he might be crushed under the weight of all the emotions. He needed to be alone.

In the trees of the Petalberg woods he found refuge and solace. The trees were thick and shady and the ground quiet. A few Wurmple and Tailow sat in the branches but they took no notice of him.

He sat down in the ground, his body hidden in the tall grass, buried his face in his paws and wept. "Ashachu…how could you…After everything we shared together. Everything we meant to each other." He pressed his paws hard against his face until he saw red. Visions started playing in his head.

He and Ashachu playing together…Their first kiss…Their second kiss…The time they had spent together in that secret base in Po Town. Even now that memory made him shiver in pleasure.

"Why did you do it…Why did you have to break my heart. How could you join Team Rocket?"

The happy scenes of his and Ashachu's friendship faded. The vision of Ashachu with his fur dyed black leered at him from the darkest corner of his little Riolu mind. And the sight of Ashachu and Blade…. At the Aether Foundation.

"Hunter?"

Hunter didn't even bother to look and see who had called his name. "Go away," he yipped, his voice high and trembling.

"There you are. What are you doing out here?"

"I said GO AWAY!"

But whoever it was did not go away. He heard the pitter patter of paw steps approach him, and a warm soft body slide next to his. Somebody put their arm around him and pulled him close. Warm thick fur mingled with his.

"No Hunter, I'm not going away. You shouldn't be out here all by yourself like this. Not in this condition?"

Hunter opened looked up and turned his head. His red eyes met the soft chocolate ones of… "Geyser." He felt his heart beat rapidly in his chest. "W-what are you…"

"I was worried about you. Cameron told Ash that you had run away. You shouldn't be out here by yourself, it's not safe."

Hunter half scoffed, half hiccupped. "I'll be fine. I'm a strong fighting type. I can take care of myself."

"I know that," said Geyser. "That's not what I'm worried about." Geyser brought his free paw up to Hunter's face, and wiped the tears from his eyes.

Hunter wasn't quite sure how to react. Part of him felt it was presumption and wanted to push Geyser away. Another part of him wanted to pull Geyser closer, and bury his face in the Dewott's chest.

"I was more worried about what you're feeling right now. About the pain in your heart," Geyser continued.

"And why would you care about that?"

"Because Hunter…I care about you," Geyser explained gently. "I haven't been able to find the words to say this but…I really like you."

Hunter shut his eyes again and swivelled around, so his back was facing Geyser. "Ugh. Geyser, I really don't need to hear that right now!"

Geyser sighed, before placing his paws on Hunter's shoulder and squeezing them gently. "Look Hunter. I can't say that I know what you're going through right now. Though I do know what it's like to be in love with someone who doesn't show you affection back. But what I want to say to you is…That what Ashachu's done to you is awful. He betrayed you. He betrayed all of us. And that hurts."

Hunter nodded. "You can't even begin to imagine how much."

Geyser moved his left paw down Hunter's back and stroked his side. "I know that hurts…But I want you to know Hunter that…You deserve better than Ashachu. You deserve much better than to be cheated on, to have your boyfriend help Pokenap you, and to be hurt like this… Basically Hunter…Fuck Ashachu. You deserve so much better than him."

Hunter sighed and shook his head. "Please…Don't say that about Ashachu. I mean, I know what his done. But…I…I."

"You still care for him?"

Hunter gave his head a single nod. There was a war with his heart. Part of him actively approved Geysers words. The other wanted to defend Ashachu's honour.

"I get it," said Geyser. "He was your best friend, and your first lover. And it's hard to reconcile that with what he's done. But you need to acknowledge that, whatever it was that you had, it's over now. It's not going to work between you anymore after this and… While it might be hard to let go… You should know that…There are others that care about you. I care about you…"

[Pokémon]

Meanwhile…Petalberg City Pokémon centre…

"Hey you…Scumchu…Oh good, you're awake…You know you're fucked, right?"

The first thing Ashachu saw when he awoke was Blade leering at him. It was a hard thing to reconcile. The face of the Pokémon he had kissed, now bearing his fangs at him. Who had once grinned in that seductive way he both hated and loved at him, now wearing an expression that read I will kill you?

He glanced around and at once knew that he was in a Pokémon Centre. Where else could he be. All these buildings looked the same, in whatever city or town he was in. Why did humans like symmetry and uniformity so much? He then examined his body.

His chest and stomach were covered in bloody bandages. Bandages that covered the wounds that Blade had given him in the gym. He was almost surprised he wasn't in more pain. Perhaps after all the battles, fights and serious injuries he had suffered in his short little life, he'd just got used to it.

Or maybe part of his brain was still in hibernation mode. Closed down so as to not feel the pain within…Both physical and emotional…

Ashachu decided to ignore Blade. There was no point. That relationship was beyond the point where it could be repaired, and he just didn't have the emotional energy to care right now. Plus, there was nothing Blade could do to him right now. There was a cage around his bed.

He turned his back to the Sneasel, curled into a ball and pressed his face into his fuzzy yellow fur.

"Hey, don't turn your back on me," yelled Blade. "Look at me scumchu. Look at me, cause your dead. When I get my claws on you, I'm going to rip you apart for lying to me. Think I'll keep your ears as a trophy. Always liked them. And you'd just better hope it's me who gets ya, and not Shadow. Just thinking about what he'll do to you. And Charizard. Ohh the horror."

Ashachu continued to ignore him.

Blade clenched his jaw and gave a growl of frustration. He tapped on the bars of the cage with his claws, but to no avail. "Maybe I can get Shadow to brutalise you're little Riolu bitch too…And make you watch. Then you'll know what it feels like to have someone shatter your heart!"

Still nothing. Ashachu's lack of a response was really starting to irk the Sneasel. Blade wanted to hurt Ashachu. Give him a taste of the pain that he had caused him through his lies and manipulation. To punish him for allowing Blade to fall back into the clutches of humans.

"Or maybe your little boyfriend will do it for me. Now that he's run off with that Dewott."

That did it. "What?" Ashachu sat bolt upright, staring at Blade. "What are Hunter and Geyser doing."

Blade grinned. Here we go! "That got your attention, didn't it pika-cunt! Maybe I shouldn't tell ya. Ignore ya, see how you like."

"Tell me," cried Ashachu desperately. "What about Hunter and Geyser?"

It was as if all of Ashachu's emotion had come flooding back to him. His chest tightened, this throat went dry and his heart raced. Hunter and Geyser…It couldn't be, could it? No, it couldn't…He couldn't let that happen!

Blade licked his lips, enjoying the panicked expression on Ashachu's face. Arceus, this felt good. "Hunter ran off as soon as we got out of the gym. His trainer and aura-boy ran after him…As did that Dewott friend of yours. Ran off into the woods. Wonder who'll get to him first. Bluely, flighty or some wild Pokémon. I've heard there are Riolu eating creatures out there. If only you'd…Hey where are you?"

CRASH

In one fluid motion, Ashachu had leapt off his bed, crossed the room to the small window on the far wall and broke the glass with iron tail. His paws hit the grass and he ran off towards the trees.

He had to find Hunter…He had to tell the Riolu how much he meant to him and how sorry he was…And how he would do anything to make this right. He couldn't lose Hunter now. Not after everything they had been through. Not to… Geyser!

He stopped when he reached the tree line. He raised his head so his nose was pointing up in the air, closed his eyes and sniffed. Success, he caught the distinctive musk of a Riolu – Hunter's smell. He would recognise it anywhere.

"Hunter…I'm coming."

He dashed off into the trees. His bandages caught on the brambles, slowly unravelling. His wounds re-opening, but he didn't care. So desperate was he, his brain so focused on Hunter, that he didn't notice the pain….

[Pokémon]

Hunter turned back around. He was looking directly into Geyser's eyes now…How had he not noticed how pretty they were. He lifted a paw and touched Geyser's face. The fur was soft and smooth under his pad.

Geyser, taking this as a positive sign, grew a little bolder and put both his arms around the Riolu, pulling him a little closer. They were so close now. Their noses were nearly touching.

"You-you really do care for me, don't you Geyser," Hunter whispered.

"Since the moment I laid eyes upon you Hunter," the otter replied. "I don't want to pressure you into anything, or make you feel uncomfortable but…If you're willing, I think we could…mmgh."

Hunter wasn't sure what had made him do it. A momentary lapse in judgement. Some feeling deep down in his heart. An instinct. He wasn't even sure if he was fully aware of doing it. But the next thing he knew, he had pushed forward, and pressed his lips against Geyser.

'…Dream coming true…' It was like an explosion of fireworks within Geyser's chest. Hunter was kissing him…Actually kissing him. It was better than anything he could have imagined.

He hugged the Riolu a little closer to himself, as he kissed him back. Hunter tasted sweeter than the most delicious berry he had ever eaten, and his body was soft and warm. Slowly he extended his tongue, brushing it against Hunter's lips, begging for entrance.

Success…Hunter responded by allowing his own tongue to roll out and touch Geysers. The feeling was indescribable. Too bad it wasn't going to last…

"HUNTER!"

The familiar sounding squeak returned Hunter and Geyser to their senses. They broke apart and looked around to see a shocked Ashachu standing nearby.

"Ashachu," they both said at once jumping to their feet.

Hunter felt a lurch in his stomach as his eyes met Ashachu. Ashachu rose to his feet, his maw falling open in shock and horror. Then his eyes narrowed and an angry snarl crossed his muzzle. He pointed a single paw at Geyser. "You!"

"Ashachu," cried Hunter. "This isn't…"

"How dare you kiss him!"

Geyser moved protectively in front of Hunter, scowling back at Ashachu. "You don't have the right to say that to us, Ashachu. I'll kiss whoever I like. And I happen to like Hunter."

"You shit," Ashachu shouted. "Hunter doesn't really like you. You're just taking advantage of him."

Rage exploded within Ashachu. A fire in his heart that vaporised all of his other feelings, and filled his brain with the black smoke of hatred.

"Ashachu…Please…." It was Hunter who had spoken. He stepped out from behind Geyser, holding up his paws and walking cautiously towards. "Don't do anything stupid. I…"

Geyser cut him off. He put a paw on Hunter's shoulder to stop him, then with his free paw and removed a Scalchop and pointed it at Ashachu. "No, I'll explain. You did this Ashachu. You betrayed Hunter. You broke his heart and now Hunter wants to be with someone who will actually respecting him and treat him the way Pokémon should treat their mates…Now I'll warn you once. Just because we're team mates, doesn't mean I won't really hurt you if you take one more step. So why don't you turn around and…."

But he didn't get to finish the sentence. The rage exploded out of Ashachu in one enormous thunderbolt….